FEMA officials issued a press release on Friday, Dec. 10, in which they listed some questions which Bronx residents, who incurred damage or losses following Hurricane Ida and who are applying for FEMA disaster assistance, may have.

Listed below are the answers to these Frequently Asked Questions:

Q: I am receiving temporary rental assistance from FEMA, but it is only good for two months. Can it be extended?

A: FEMA may provide Continued Temporary Housing Assistance to eligible applicants based on need. It is usually only granted when adequate, alternate housing is not available, or when the applicant’s permanent housing plan has not been fulfilled through no fault of their own. If you are a renter, call the FEMA Helpline at 800-621-3362 to request an Application for Continued Temporary Housing Assistance. If you are a homeowner whose FEMA-verified property loss exceeds the amount of rental assistance you received, the application will be mailed to you. If the amount of FEMA-verified property loss does not exceed the amount of initial Rental Assistance you were awarded, you need to call the FEMA Helpline to request that application. The maximum amount of Continued Temporary Housing Assistance available under the Individuals and Households Program is up to 18 months plus the cost of a security deposit.

Q: What should I do if I missed my appointment with the FEMA inspector?

A: If you missed one scheduled appointment with a FEMA inspector and would still like an inspection, you may call the FEMA Helpline and request another inspection or reinstatement. If you missed two or more scheduled appointments with a FEMA inspector and would still like an inspection, you may call the FEMA Helpline. You will be advised that you must submit your request for an inspection or reinstatement in writing. Include the disaster number (DR-4615-NY), your registration number, last four digits of your Social Security Number, and your name on all pages of any correspondence you send to FEMA. You may upload your request to your DisasterAssistance.gov account; mail it to: FEMA National Processing Service Center, P.O. Box 10055, Hyattsville, MD 20782-8055; or fax it to 800-827-8112, Attention: FEMA.

• The FEMA Helpline can be reached at 800-621-3362. If you use video relay service (VRS), captioned telephone service or others, give FEMA the number for that service. Helpline operators are available from 7 a.m. to 11 p.m. daily. Press 2 for Spanish. Press 3 for an interpreter who speaks your language.

Q: Will FEMA help me choose a contractor to repair my home?

A: No. You are responsible for selecting and hiring a contractor to repair or rebuild your home. FEMA recommends you check to make sure the contractor is licensed, bonded and insured. Ask for references. Agree on a timeline for completion of the work and a schedule of payments. For more tips and information on hiring a contractor, contact the New York Department of State at 800-697-1220 or dos.ny.gov.

Q: Someone knocked on my door, claiming to be from FEMA. He was asking for my personal information. How could I be sure he was from FEMA?

A: When someone claiming to be a FEMA representative visits your home, check their photo ID. All FEMA personnel and contractors carry official identification. If you have knowledge of fraud, waste or abuse, you can report it anonymously – 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Call the FEMA Disaster Fraud Hotline at 866-720-5721 or email StopFEMAFraud@fema.dhs.gov.

Q: My county was just approved for FEMA disaster assistance, but I already completed repairs on my damaged home. Is it too late to receive help from FEMA?

A: No. If you had damage to your home from Hurricane Ida that was not covered by insurance, or you were not insured, you may apply with FEMA to be considered for disaster assistance. You will need to submit insurance coverage, settlement, or denial documents, and/or contractor’s estimates or receipts for disaster-caused damage or loss.

• To apply for FEMA assistance, visit DisasterAssistance.gov, use the FEMA mobile app or call the FEMA Helpline at 800-621-3362. If you use video relay service (VRS), captioned telephone service or others, give FEMA the number for that service. Lines are open from 7 a.m. to 11 p.m. daily. Press 2 for Spanish. Press 3 for an interpreter who speaks your language.

• For help submitting your documents to FEMA or getting answers to your questions, you may visit a Disaster Recovery Center and meet with FEMA staff and representatives of other federal and state agencies. To find a Disaster Recovery Center near you, visit fema.gov/locations/new%20york#drc.

As reported, the deadline to apply for FEMA disaster assistance was recently extended to Tuesday, January 4, 2022.

As reported, Reps. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (NY-14) and Jamaal Bowman (NY-16) sent a letter dated Nov. 30 to the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) asking them to provide additional aid to victims of Hurricane Ida. This follows the release of data which shows that nearly 10,000 applications for disaster relief in Queens and The Bronx were denied. The full letter is available here.

For additional online resources as well as FEMA downloadable pamphlets and other aids, visit DisasterAssistance.gov and click “Information.”